Is the main Vesak festival in Colombo on May 1 or May 30?

While May 1 is a Poya day, the official State Vesak Festival for 2026 will be observed on May 30. The decision was made to align with traditional nakatha for the Buddha Birth and Enlightenment celebrations. This is when the largest thoranas and competition lanterns in Colombo and Kandy will be at their peak. Many temples will still have religious programs on May 1, but for the light displays, the end of the month is the main event.